At a glance

Your chance to

At a glance

9 nights comfortable hotels/lodges All hotels are air-conditioned and are 3 or 4 star (except in Delhi); they generally have excellent facilities and many are centrally located

Flights direct with Jet Airways

Transport private air-conditioned mini bus, train, jeep and rickshaws

Discover the highlights of Northern India

Northern India conjures up memorable and colourful images including turbans, saris, great food and rickshaws. We visit the 'Pink City' of Jaipur, home to the wonderful former Maharaja's Palace and the splendid hilltop Amber Fort. Agra and the serene Taj Mahal are not to be missed and fully live up to expectations. We explore mystical Pushkar, where you will have the option of a ride by camel cart, passing through timeless villages on the way. For a change in pace we visit the tranquil area around Sariska National Park (there will not be an opportunity to see Tiger on these summer departures).

Itinerary

Show detailed itinerary

1Day 1Start Delhi; afternoon sightseeing in New and Old Delhi.

Arrive in Delhi and transfer to our hotel. Those who have made their own flight arrangements will join us at the hotel in the morning. After lunch we will have a tour of the capital. In Old Delhi we visit the Red Fort (if you arrive in Delhi on a Monday you will visit an alternative site as the Red Fort is closed) and Jama Masjid (India's largest mosque) and in New Delhi we drive past the fine colonial buildings. Built by the British Raj in the early years of the 20th century and set in spacious tree-lined boulevards these now house various Indian governmental departments.See more images and videos

We leave Delhi in the morning and take the early train to Agra, site of some of the most famous attractions in the world. During the day we visit the imposing Red Fort of Akbar, whose mighty sandstone walls enclose the beautiful white marble Pearl Mosque and the palaces, halls, courtyards and fountains of his sons and successors, Jehangir and Shah Jahan. Agra also offers a wide variety of handicrafts including jewellery, inlaid and carved marble, carpets and clothes and there will be free time to explore and visit the wonderful handicraft emporiums. There will be some free time in the afternoon to relax at the hotel or for individual exploration.

3Day 3Sunrise visit to the incredible Taj Mahal; to Fatehpur Sikri, 16th century Moghul capital; to Bharatpur; visit the bird sanctuary at dusk.

A very early start to see the incredible spectacle of the sunrise over the Taj Mahal. The Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631, built the beautiful white marble Taj Mahal. The Taj is serenely beautiful and never fails to amaze a first time visitor; the white marble exterior changes colour according to the position of the sun during the day and is matched by the rich interior detail. After our visit it's time to leave Agra and drive to Bharatpur via the deserted ancient city of Fatehpur Sikri. Children will love to roam here amongst the ruins so it is fun for all. Formally the capital of the Mughal Empire, this wonderfully preserved 'ghost town' was constructed by Emperor Akabar between 1570 and 1585 and reflects his ideals in art, religion and architecture. This impressive and well-preserved citadel became his capital in 1571, after the blessing of a local Moslem holy man correctly predicted the birth of a longed-for son, his successor the Emperor Jehangir. But this magnificence only lasted 14 years, as in 1584 Akbar left Fatehpur Sikri to secure his outlying territories, leaving this city much as we see it today. The site is one of the most atmospheric in northern India and its position on a ridge overlooking the modern village below and wonderful state of preservation provide us with a taste of this city's majestic past.See more images and videos

4Day 4Morning explore bird sanctuary by cycle rickshaw - the park has more than 360 species of bird; afternoon transfer to Sariska National Park.

It's best to start early to catch the best of the bird life that inhabits this park. Listed as a world-heritage site the bird sanctuary at Keoladeo Ghana National Park is a truly relaxing experience and a world away from the common perception of bustling India. This region was originally semi arid only filling with water during the monsoon season. The Maharaja of Bharatpur diverted water from a nearby irrigation canal and it was converted into a bird Sanctuary in 1956. There are now over 360 species of birds to be found there including an array of Egrets, Ducks, Coots, Storks, Kingfishers, Owls, Eagles and Harriers. We spend our time exploring by cycle rickshaw, a traditional form of transport in India and unlike anything we use in the west! Leaving Bharatpur behind we head to Sariska National Park (5-6 hour journey).See more images and videos

5Day 5Nature walk; village visit.

Early morning nature walk (3 hours), afternoon local exploration including Alwar Museum, boating on Saliserh Lake and a visit to a local village.See more images and videos

6Day 6Morning game drive; to Jaipur.

After a morning game drive we leave the park and drive to the capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur (4-5 hour journey).

A day of exploration. The Pink City of Jaipur is one of the most attractive and colourful cities in India. Rajah Jai Singh decided to abandon his nearby fortress and palace at Amber in 1727 and laid out a planned city of broad avenues, built of sandstone and painted pink at a later stage. In the centre of Jaipur is the City Palace, formerly the residence of the Maharaja, it is now a fine museum containing rare manuscripts, paintings, royal garments and weapons. Close to the palace is one of the most intriguing sights of India, the observatory of Jai Singh. This is an assembly of immense astronomical instruments made of marble and brass set in a pleasant garden. We will also see Jaipur's impressive landmark, the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds. A few miles from the main city is the splendid Amber Palace, rising above a lake. The imposing hilltop fort contains large courtyards and interiors with fine decorations. We walk up the hill and through the massive gateway to the courtyard. Jaipur is a centre of many handicrafts, such as durries (woven rugs), carpets, printed cloth, semi-precious stones, leatherwear etc.; it will be difficult to leave a workshop without buying anything!See more images and videos

8Day 8To Pushkar, optional traditional village visit by camel cart.

We head to Pushkar, pilgrimage town and home to the annual Pushkar Camel Fair. The town is steeped in mysticism and we can take a late afternoon camel ride (optional), as the sun goes down, for an atmospheric view of the surrounding scenery.See more images and videos

9Day 9Morning free to explore the holy city of Pushkar and take a hill walk; afternoon train to Delhi; arrive in the evening.

The morning is free to wander round and soak up the unique atmosphere of this religious town before we travel by train back to Delhi.

Your images

Family group

Family group holidays that you and your family can enjoy together. These trips are active, adventurous and provide the perfect blend of exploration and sociability.

Activity level

You are healthy, enjoy the outdoors and want a relaxing trip. No experience is required.

What's included

What's included

All breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners

All accommodation (see below)

All transport and listed activities

Tour leader throughout

Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

What's not included

Travel insurance

Single accommodation (available on request)

Visas or vaccinations

Accommodation details

Hotels & Lodges

You will spend 9 nights in comfortable hotels and lodges, all of the hotels selected have en-suite rooms with air-conditioning and are mostly 3 and 4 star. )They generally have excellent facilities and many are centrally located. All hotels have swimming pools, except in Delhi.

Single supplements are available from £165.

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
Visas are required if you are British and for most other nationalities. To apply for the Indian visa yourself you will need to go through the Indian High Commission's VF service (http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk) and visit one of their centres in person or use a visa agency, such as Travcour, to do visit for you. The current visa fee for British passport holders is GBP82 (plus a service charge of GBP7.44). For UK residents full details of the visa process will be provided with your booking confirmation.
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Some of our India trips spend time at altitude. In regions over approx. 2000m, there is low to no risk of mosquito-borne diseases. For trips going to altitudes of over 3000m there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Our itineraries are designed to enable everyone to acclimatise to these altitudes, but you should be aware that it is still possible for you to be affected. Please see the TRIP NOTES for further information. Holiday style

The roads are generally pretty good, but local traffic and/or road damage after the monsoon can sometimes slow us down.
The tour is not overly demanding, but some of the days can be busy, where travelling is combined with sightseeing. At times it can be quite hot and dusty (except December) and the bustle of the Indian cities can be tiring.
Together with our local operator we have put together a pictorial quiz featuring many of the historical sites this trip visits. This will be given to children on the trip and is terrific fun as well as being somewhat educational in content.

Eating & drinking

In the itinerary we state which meals are included on which day.
Breakfast is included throughout the trip, except for day 1 of the itinerary as you should be given breakfast on the flight. If you do want another breakfast it costs approx. GBP3 (USD5) at the hotel in Delhi. You should allow at least GBP12 (USD20) per day for lunch and dinner. You can eat out very cheaply in India, but if you go to the more expensive restaurants most of the time, you will spend more than the suggested amount. In most of the towns there is a good choice of restaurants and a choice between Indian and basic Western style food. If you are a vegetarian India is probably one of the best destinations to travel to with a wide range of dishes on offer. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap. A (large!) bottle of beer is approx. GBP3 (USD5). Mineral water is widely available. Please note that service in restaurants can be quite slow.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want
to know about this trip, including detailed itinerary and full kit list.

Weather & seasonality

During October/November and February/March/April the days are normally warm to hot and nights cool or mild. Humidity is very low and little or no rain can be expected. In March, April and October it can get very hot during the day. Evenings in Delhi can be surprisingly cool. It gets very cold in the early mornings and evenings in December and January and warm clothes are essential. Fog is also a real possibility during this period. Please note that night time temperatures in Delhi can be very cold and only a little above freezing in December and January.

The evenings and early mornings can be surprisingly cool, so bring a jumper as well as sun hat, sun cream and sunglasses.

Departures in May and August will be considerably hotter (see chart below) than at other times of the year. Air-conditioned vehicles will be used, and all hotels have swimming pools, which will give an opportunity to cool off.

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Reviews & community

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Exodus insightsFrom our community

Questions about your trip

Pick your question

I've heard the 'Delhi Belly' rumours in India -will this be a problem?

India has delicious food to cater for all preferences but, like anywhere in the world, hygiene is important. Keeping your hands well washed before eating, staying as hydrated as possible and sticking to bottled water is the best protection against an upset tum. Otherwise, mashed potato is apparently a good cure!

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

Is it possible to get visas upon arrival?

No. Indian visas must be pre-arranged in advance. Check the Indian embassy website for details.

Land of the Tiger articles

Caroline Northcott, one of our clients, travelled on this trip a few years ago. Please read her inspirational article to get a personal viewpoint of the holiday.

Exodus staff - expertise on hand to help

All the staff at Exodus share a passion for adventure travel, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. You can find an expert for the area you are interested in here and can contact them to get further information. If you don't see your specific country listed, please email customerops@exodus.co.uk and they will get the answers you need!

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